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Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan’s centuries led Pakistan to a record-breaking run chase in ODI World Cup history to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets and 10 balls to spare. Pakistan broke Ireland’s 12-year-old record to chase down the target of 345 at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad.
The Sri Lanka skipper decided to bat first after winning the toss. Hasan Ali dismissed Kusal Perera for a four-ball duck in his first over. In the fifth over, Shaheen Afridi dropped Kusal Mendis' catch off his own bowling. He followed it up with a six. In his next over, Imam-ul-Haq dropped an easy catch of Mendis at backward point. Pathum Nissanka and Mendis went after Pakistan bowlers. Nissanka reached his half-century from 58 balls whereas Mendis took 40 balls. Shadab Khan got the breakthrough as Nissanka returned to pavillion for a 61-ball 51.
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Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama went after Haris Rauf as he conceded 20 runs in an over. Mendis hit Afridi for a hat-trick of fours. He reached his century from just 65 balls with a six, the fastest for Sri Lanka in World Cup history. In Ali's next over, Mendis hit back-to-back sixes and then got caught in the deep. He scored 122 runs from 77 balls featuring 14 fours and six sixes. In his next over, Ali dismissed Charith Asalanka. Samarawickrama reached his half-century from 43 balls. Dhananjaya de Silva could not attack and was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz for a 34-ball 25.
Samarawickrama continued the onslaught and completed his maiden ODI century from 82 balls. Shanaka could not do much damage and was dismissed for 12 by Afridi. Ali in his last over got the wicket of Samarawickrama who scored 108 runs from 89 balls including 11 fours and a couple of sixes. In the final over, just one run was scored and Rauf struck twice. Sri Lanka posted 344/9, the highest score against Pakistan in ODI World Cup history.
The run chase got off to a slow start. Imam completed his 3,000 ODI runs and then played a mistimed pull shot to get out to Dilshan Madushanka. In the eighth over, Madushanka got the wicket of Babar Azam. Replacing Fakhar Zaman in the side, Shafique oozed confidence despite early wickets and looked to stitch a partnership with Rizwan. He reached his half-century from 58 balls. Rizwan picked up pace after a slow start as well. He reached his half-century from 58 balls. Shafique shifted gears and Sri Lanka panicked. He got to his century on his World Cup debut from 96 balls. Meanwhile, in the absence of Mendis, stand-in wicketkeeper Samarawickrama leaked too many runs behind the stumps.
Matheesha Pathirana came back into the attack and dismissed Shafique as substitute fielder Dushan Hemantha took a stunning catch. The opener scored 113 runs from 103 balls including 10 fours and three sixes. Rizwan completed his century from 97 balls in the 42nd over. Saud Shakeel's catch was dropped but he could not make the most of it and was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana. Iftikhar Ahmed did not get the pressure got to him and hit Pathirana for a couple of boundaries. In the penultimate over, Rizwan finished the run chase. He remained unbeaten for 131 runs from 121 balls including eight fours and three sixes.
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